Upset eludes River Hawks

LOWELL -- The UMass Lowell women's basketball team's defense made Stonehill's players sweat for every shot they took. But when the undefeated Sky Hawks did get them, they didn't miss very often.

Stonehill 82, UML women 75

Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the River Hawks' reserve players, who came off the bench in waves like a hockey team changing lines but, outside of Demetria Bell's 5-for-7 shooting, hit just three of 22 shots.

Stonehill rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the second half and pulled away in the final seconds to trim UMass Lowell, 82-75, in a Northeast-10 contest at the Costello Athletic Center on Wednesday night.

UML coach Sarah Behn said she may have been guilty of overcoaching after the River Hawks slipped to 3-2, 1-2 in the NE-10.

"When we went up 52-41, that was our chance to open it up, and we blew it," Behn lamented. "I subbed at the wrong time, and I'll learn from that."

Bianca Simmons, who matched her career high with 28 points, had just canned a three-pointer to give UML that 11-point lead just over three minutes into the second half. But the Sky Hawks (6-0, 3-0) reeled off 13 unanswered points in the next 21/2 minutes, including three straight three-pointers that put them in front 54-52.

The lead changed hands several times the rest of the way. But a three-pointer from the top of the key by Ewing with 24.

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8 seconds left boosted Stonehill's lead to 80-75. Simmons drove to the basket only to see her shot roll in and out with 18 seconds left. Tori Faieta pulled down her 16th rebound of the night, and Ewing layed the ball in off a fast break to seal the victory for the Sky Hawks.

UML's fullcourt press and trapping gave the Sky Hawks nothing but trouble from the start of the game, forcing 19 first-half turnovers while Stonehill managed just 28 shots to UML's 42.

Those turnovers helped the River Hawks go on a 14-2 run that gave them a 16-10 lead eight minutes into the game.

But the Sky Hawks made half of their 28 shots and trailed just 41-39 at the half.

Behn chastised herself for not sticking with the press for the entire game.

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